July 31, 2009

It's Official: US Signs UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

From the ACLU:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 30, 2009 3:51 PM

US Signs International Treaty on the Rights of Persons With DisabilitiesMove Is Critical to Reassuming Leadership on Human Rights, Says ACLU

NEW YORK - July 30 - The United States today signed the most comprehensive international treaty on the rights of persons with disabilities in history. Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, signed the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the organization's headquarters in New York City. If ratified by the Senate, the CRPD will be the fourth major human rights treaty ever adopted by the U.S. and the first it has adopted in the 21st century. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomes this important step by the Obama administration to reengage the U.S. in international human rights efforts.

"This is a great day for the rights of people with disabilities and a step forward for the U.S. human rights movement," said Jamil Dakwar, Director of the ACLU Human Rights Program. "By signing the CRPD, the U.S. will reassume a leading role in the promotion and stewardship of human rights at home and abroad."

The CRPD, signed by 140 nations since May 2008, has significant overlap with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the other U.S. laws protecting disability rights. In addition, it provides a holistic and inclusive approach to defining disability, recognizes past discrimination in addressing problems individuals with disabilities encounter in society and includes specific articles related to the rights of women and children with disabilities. Under the CRPD, ratifying countries are obligated to prevent discrimination against, promote accessibility for and work to achieve the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights for persons with disabilities.

"If adopted by the United States, the CRPD will inspire a more vigorous and comprehensive approach in the U.S. to addressing the myriad injustices still suffered by persons with disabilities," said James Felakos, a Disability Rights Fellow with the ACLU. "We look forward to the Senate's ratification of the CRPD."

During his campaign, then-Senator Obama promised that he would sign the CRPD. The Bush administration chose not to sign the Convention, even after participating in the negotiating sessions that led to its drafting. Under the U.S. Constitution, after the Senate gives its advice and consent to ratification, a treaty becomes law.

The U.S. has also signed but has yet to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, two major human rights treaties that have significantly contributed to the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children worldwide.

2 Comments

Come on! International, and the ADA isn't even enforved? Are you KIDDING yourselves?

I am struggling with the knowledge from the Office of Civil Rights in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that said the federal government has 'grandfathered' out the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1991) restroom requirements for those business persons in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who are getting federal funds to rebuild/remodel their flood-damaged businesses. This is disheartening and frustrates me and others who simply wish to use a restroom after spending our money for lunch at Hacienda Los Glorios on 1st Ave., CR, or buy a beer at Ernies Ave. Tavern in Czech Village. These rebuilt/remodeled buildings were beautifully redone without handicapped restrooms, because the government said they did not have to meet the guidelines of the ADA with the federal funds they were given. This is true for all CR businesses rebuilding/remodeling with our federal tax dollars.

Anyone in or outside of Iowa can contact Senator Harkins with a short email. Consider mentioning how the soldiers coming home with amputations and paralyses will be smacked in the face by this outrageousness. Perhaps our letter should show the absurdity by asking them to require that all businesses that do not meet the ADA requirements post this on their entry doors: ALL PATRONS MAY SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE, BUT ONLY ABLE-BODIED PERSONS MAY USE OUR RESTROOMS. (Very 1960's). At least THEN we would know in advance not to support that business!

Those of you outside of Iowa might also contact your own Senators--found by state at the following link.

Please forward this to all your friends whom you think would be activist enough to take a minute to express concern for the returning vets--and for me. I'm sure there are untold numbers of businesses across the nation. People have no idea the frustration it causes to be otherwise ABLE to do what one wants--if only the barriers would be removed. Most barriers are simple problems to solve--and not as costly and those who refuse to make them would believe. It will take those of us with disabilites--PLUS our able-bodied friends who care--to show business owners that they WILL lose significant income if they don't do the right thing.

I think we need a revolution & picketers on this one! :) Actually, would you boycott these places for a time to make a point? Consider asking as you go into a business if they have handicapped accessible restrooms--and LEAVE immediately if they don't! Again, if they realize a loss in their incomes, they will make the changes.

Frankie Mastrangelo is the moderator for both the Justice For All (JFA) national email listerv as well as for the JFActivist blog. She is also an organizer for the American Association of People with Disabilities in Washington, D.C.